Seminars

The Revolution of Love ── Activism of Poetry and Culture

Sunday, Sep 24, 14:30 @ 3F Forum, Eslite Spectrum Songyan Store

Although there have been diplomatic issues between Nigeria and Taiwan, the disputes are not in the ways of poetry communication. This talk will take you to understand the distant voices of West Africa and lively local scenes of poetry and music. A young poet from Nigeria, Efe Paul Azino also a performance artist and curator is inspired by history and land, and speaks of contemporary feelings. Chang Jui-chuan is a musician, at the same time, an activist who works with local dialects, and is devoted to broadening music genres. The host of this talk is Ma Shih-fang, a known expert in Taiwan contemporary music.

The Space of Writing Poetry

Sunday, Sep 24, 19:30 @ 3F Forum, Eslite Spectrum Songyan Store

Japanese poet Hirata Toshiko’s works are full of actions and refreshing, and attract readers from different ages. The panelist is Taiwanese Poet Fong Ching whose writing was tender and spiritual, nowadays turns to deep thoughts of social criticism. Between two islands, two female poets in same generation but one from Japan, the other from Taiwan, their poetic thoughts are agile rabbits in the snow field, but the interflow of life and writing is as flaming fire. Hirata Toshiko is addressing “The Space of Writing Poetry,” and we are curious how Fong Ching would respond.

The City, Homeland, and Poetry

Wednesday, Sep 27, 19:30 @ 2F, Kishu An Forest of Literature

Lee Chin-wen’s poems are known for intricate images and incorporating life subjects without exception. Chen Chia-tai’s poems for a long time has addressed the city’s outskirt. Hong Kong poet Chung Kwok-keung’s poems are like growing houses, or trees that grow out of memory. They reflect life from the city he lives, or take readers to see the complicated relationship that are stacked together like wrecks. All three poets’ works could be read side-by-side, however with different flavors. Together, they will discuss how to construct cities and home with poetry.

Vietnam's Literary Beauty

Thursday, Sep 28, 19:30 @ 2F, Kishu An Forest of Literature

Vietnam poet Dang Than’s works are known for being humorous and filled with critical thinking. His books have been written in many styles that cross fiction and poetry. His works were prohibited from publishing in Vietnam between 2008 and 2011. Taiwanese writer Chang Chih-hsin grew lively curiosity and emotions toward Vietnam because of a family member coming from there and her close Vietnamese female friends. The host of the panel is Hsiang Yang who is very familiar with realism poetry and literature censorship, and obtains great humor.

I Am Not in the Same Tune with the Time

Saturday, Sep 30, 14:30 @ Poetry in Life

Chung Kwok-keung, a stable Hong Kong poet whose writing has been continuous. He cares for people in the city and images of families. Lo Jen-ling fits in the same generation as Chung in Taiwan, and is known for delicate descriptions of natural sceneries and human relations different from others. Two poets’ styles are unique from their contemporaries, and become paradigms for others to follow. Luk Wing-yu, a Hong Kong born poet but long-time Taiwan resident is hosting the talk, as a bridge between Hong Kong and Taiwan.

The skylight of the city, to the farthest, would be the sea. Those who succeed the sea are not only be the fictional masters, but poets. The grand master of marine poetry Wang Qi-jiang and the surfer poet Wu Huai-chen, both fully express the island spirit, and represent their literary views toward the ocean though of different generations. The host for the talk is Yang Tsung-han who has a firm grasp of today’s poetry world. The panel will discuss about the meaning of ocean in life and poetry, and how to speak of it in poetry.

Walter Benjamin said that Charles Baudelaire was “a lyric poet in the era of high capitalism.” If comparing contemporary Taiwan to 19th century Paris, is it more advanced or narrowed? Can lyric tradition continue to rule the world, and dominate all? How do lyric people see un-lyric? For those who insist on lyric, how do they react to the time?

In the past few decades, writing poems in Taiwanese dialect has been a trend, and culminates to a sizable volume. In earlier days, it mostly touched on history or Taiwan identity; and today, it covers all sorts of topics, and nothing was not delicately expressed. The talk features Lee Chang-ching, Suzanne Tsai, Li Bi-chhin who are known for using Taiwanese to create poetic language and to broaden the visions. The host Tēnn Sūn-tshong knows writing in Taiwanese close to heart, and will lead the excitement around poetry.

The Futurism of Poetry Communication

Friday, Oct 6, 19:30 @ Anemos Cafe

Since the birth of modern literature, print press has been essential as a medium and an accumulation point. After the rise of the internet, the eco system of media changed dramatically, and poetry has been benefited (or damaged?) by it. Online reading is the new thing for the young readers. Is insisting on print poetry press a nostalgia or an experiment? Poets do not only act on whatever s/he pleases. They also have agents. Through the system, they release works online purposefully, and presale before printing. This session features participants in 3 different communication media to talk about their ideas and practices.

Wu Jieh-min once recited poetry in a protest to support Wu Rwei-ren. As long-time friends, both are sociologists, and have a deep love for poetry, hence the sensitivity for words; at the same time, they are concerned for the society and the destiny of Taiwan. Between “Poetry and politics,” the dual identity of writer and activist, how can they realize them together in life practice? The host is another literature loving sociologist Lin Hsiu-hsin, to thread through the talk.